‘How does he do it?’ thought Felipe Melo. Paolo Maldini, at 39 years old, performed ornately as AC Milan broke Brazilian monopoly of the FIFA Club World Cup™ in 2007.
The iconic Italian recently touched down in Jeddah, for the 20th edition of the tournament, in the knowledge that no outfield 40-something had ever played in it. It’s a record that Felipe Melo is about to rewrite.
‘Pitbull’ is determined to demolish something else. If sides from the land of samba had won the first three editions of the tournament, European ones have won the last 10. Felipe Melo wants to help Fluminense conquer the sport.
FIFA caught up with the centre-back to discuss his Saudi Arabia 2023 dream, Manchester City, the record he’s about to set, team-mates Andre and German Cano, and the Fluminense fans.
آخرین مطالب
You come from a family of Fluminense fans. What are your memories of this from growing up?
Felipe Melo: The first time I went to a football stadium to watch a professional game was Fluminense against Goytacaz – today I think they’re in the third division in Rio de Janeiro state – in the Laranjeiras, Fluminense’s home. I was six or seven. My dad took me. A really nice memory I have was that the first club shirt I put on was Fluminense’s. I was seven. My dad was a big supporter. When he couldn’t go to the Laranjeiras or the Maracana, he would listen to the radio, the commentary. My dad was always fanatical Tricolor. Not just my dad but my grandparents, my family in general were always Tricolores.
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